Steamboat-staging



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A. JOHN BELL, OF ASHLAND, KENTUCKY.

STEAMBOAT-STAGING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 31,147, dated January22, 1861; Ressued June 29, 1875, No. 6,509.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A. JOHN BELL, of Ashland, Boyd county, Kentucky,have invented a new and useful Steamboat-Staging, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theannexed drawing, making part of this specification.

The object of this invention is a more rapid easy and effective means ofshipping and unshipping the stage planks from steam water crafts, andconsists in a mode of operating said planks by connection with one ofthe steam engines employed to work or load the vessel.

In the accompanying representation of the stem of a steamboat furnishedwith my imA piovements A and B are portions of the hull and deck.

C is the stage plank.

D 'is one of two gunwale rollers which serve to ease the passage of theplank over the edge of the boat.

E is a shaft driven from the hoister or other steam engine upon theboat. F is a drum which can be driven from said shaft E in eitherdirection or be entirely disconnected therefrom by means of a clutchmovement G. Ropes or chains H, from the drum I" pass over rollers I inthe deck, and being crossed underneath the plank O, are attached toopposite ends thereof in manner shown. The outer end of the plank issupported by a cord J which extending from a boom and.

derrick K K is secured by a pulley or other running attachment to a bowL which rises figom the plank.

The operation is as follows: As the boat is nearing the bank or landingplace, a deck hand mounts the plank and seizing the cord J, at t-he wordgiven the clutchG is thrown in gear and as the plank is moved out by thewindlass, the operator lets the cord slip so as to maintain the properpresentation of the plank in approaching the shore. For shipping theplank all these movements are of courseV reversed.

Such an attachment by diminishing. the time required for shipping andunshipping 4the plank will obviously cause a material saving indetention of the boat.

It will be seen that a plank, thus operated by power can be madeavailable as a spar for easing oftl the vessel from a shoal or bank.

I claim as new and of my invention and desire to secure by LettersPatentnm The arrangement of staging O, power windlass E F G H I, andsupporting appa.n ratus J K L, Vthe whole being constructed andoperating together substantially as and for the objects set forth.

In testimony of which inventioin'I hereunto set my hand.

A. JOHBT BELL. lVitnesses Gno. H. KNIGHT, FRANcIs MILLWARD.

